All Politics
US airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria: Can they be effective?US airstrikes, and what follows, are unlikely to be sufficient to wipe out IS and may not necessarily do anything to seriously degrade its military position. Moreover, the US聽is now, effectively, aiding the regime of Bashar Assad in its civil war.聽
Congress out of session does not mean Congress isn't workingMeasuring Congress by the number of days spent in session in Washington misses the point. Members of Congress don't just vote on bills, they also represent their constituents. That means connecting with them at home.
Why the US-Syria coalition doesn't look that impressivePresident Obama says that the participation of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar in the Syria strikes 'makes it clear to the world that this is not America鈥檚 fight alone,' but the depth of their involvement is not clear.
How strikes against the Islamic State play out in US midtermsNational security is shaping up as a rising concern among voters heading into 2014 midterm elections, especially among swing voters known as 'Walmart moms.' Will slamming the president for 'no strategy' on the Islamic State work for Republicans?
White House fence jumper: How badly did the Secret Service mess up?After fence-jumper Omar Gonzalez made it inside the White House before being arrested, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduling a rare recess hearing next Tuesday on the Secret Service and its practices.
Obama targets 'tax inversions' by US firms, but real reform needs CongressThe Obama administration aims to reduce the appeal of a corporate shift overseas to avoid US taxes, as it buys time for Congress to聽reform a corporate tax code that some claim is driving business away.
Military strikes bombard Syria: Is America at war with Islamic State?The airstrikes and waves of Tomahawk missiles launched against the Islamic State in Syria overnight will not lead to a ground war, President Obama says. But this doesn't preclude other types of war.
Should the US let 16- and 17-year-olds vote?Scotland allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in a referendum over whether to break away from the United Kingdom. But outside Takoma Park, Md., there's no movement in the US to extend the franchise to voters under 18.
Religion in public life: another political divide that's growingAmericans increasingly believe the influence of religion in public life is waning, a Pew poll finds. In a likely consequence, the portion of Americans who want religious leaders to speak out on politics is growing.聽
Most Americans don't care very much about who controls CongressMost Americans say that they don't care 'a great deal' about which party controls the Congress, but the drop since 2010 has been especially notable among Republicans.
Donald Trump doesn't know who runs Senate. Do voters?Donald Trump is being roundly mocked for tweeting that GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell should be next Speaker ... of the House, a job currently held by fellow Republican Rep. John Boehner.
Boehner says unemployed 鈥榙on鈥檛 really want鈥� jobs. How bad a gaffe for GOP?After giving a speech about his plan to revive the economy Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner said the unemployed would rather 'sit around' 鈥� reviving the image of Republicans as a party of the rich.
Who called Senator Gillibrand 'chubby'? His identity matters.It was the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) of Hawaii, The New York Times reports. His comment could be written off as just a grandpa being inappropriate. But there's more to the story.
Will White House become fortress after Omar Gonzalez intrusion?After Omar Gonzalez, a veteran carrying a small knife in his pocket, made it inside the unlocked White House door, executive branch officials are considering extra measures to beef up White House security.
Obama vs. ISIS: Remind you of Bush鈥檚 'coalition of the willing' in Iraq?President Obama claims that 鈥榦ver 40 countries鈥� have offered to help the US-led campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Just how firm is that support, how firm the support of Americans and Congress?
Justice Ginsburg lifts curtain on how Supreme Court might view same-sex marriageWith at least four same-sex marriage cases before it, the Supreme Court is widely expected to take up the issue next year. But Justice Ginsburg threw a little cold water on that assumption when she suggested that the key is how the Sixth Circuit rules.
Joe Biden gaffe week: What did he say now?Biden capped off a week full of unfortunate word choices Friday by reminiscing fondly about disgraced Sen. Bob Packwood ... at a Democratic Women's Leadership Forum.
Governor Christie exonerated on 'Bridgegate?' We'll see.Federal investigators reportedly have found no evidence that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie personally ordered or knew ahead of time that aides concocted the political dirty trick known as 'Bridgegate.' Will that boost his 2016 presidential bid?
Kansas Senate race: Can Mr. Orman go to Washington ... and fix it?Now that the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that the name of the erstwhile Democratic candidate won't be on the ballot, incumbent Pat Roberts is in a difficult Senate race against Independent Greg Orman, a champion of reform.
Monitor BreakfastHow many House seats does NRCC chairman Greg Walden think GOP will gain?Rep. Greg Walden, speaking at a Monitor breakfast Friday, says that national security, both at home and abroad, is 'popping' as an issue with voters.
